Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-29
rHE PLUMBERS CASE.
Report 81 Capt. symsns - Attorney
Riddle.


capt Symons and Inspector Of Plumbing Robin
son nave prepared the data required BY District
Attorney Riddle TO assist him In his nnal argu-
ment In the plumbers case. The matter has been
sent TO the District Commissioners for considera-
ton at their board meeting to-day. The report Of
Capt Symons h q follows:
CoioNHL: have the honor to submit the follow
Dsiote accepting the bond and registering Q
plumber he has always hsd to pass an examine
Of the OF ,sss to the
~. ne mas had 70 nle certificate from the water
once, signed BY the water registrar or the super.
Be practical plumber. OF late, also, he has had
70 present voucher from some established reg
istereo plumber that he Is ut TO conduct the busi-
registered and bonded as plumbers when they have
been reported against.
n q 1ne
py nxei, competent and permanent examining
board acting under fxed and invariable rules. fof
BY men not always competent and not always re-
sponslDle, and not guided By nxed rules Your at;
tentiSn y invited . the bond Of Dan: Hannah and
TO comply faithfully with the regulation and any
amendments and all rules, regulations and orders
al soSse to WORK
IL has always been considered competent for the
Commiseloners TO satisfy themselves that q man
NIT. This competency is established in general
when the plumber Is registered, and under ordi.
nary circumstances permits are always issued tc
registered plumberA But the right mas always
Deen reserved and enforced and unQuestioned
tnat permit need not issue to registered plum,
IG ANY cause he has been dsrSt IN bis
II ne persfstently refused TO restore street To
its original good condition after doing work, or did
M ra KIN N violation Of the regulations by connect
or by laying sewerpipe IN an imperfect or illegal
manner, &C. &c, 1t has always been deemed proper
either until the work was properly done, or for an
auoltlonal length OF time, a. penalty or until the
commissioners satisfied themselves that the man
was competent In qualifications and feelings TO so
on ana conduct his work In accordance with the
The regulations of the Commissioners only allow
permits 70 issue TO registered plumbers; II Mr..
why cannot anyone eisei There are plenty Of men
% Tns
the Old rule were that incompetent men were
registered and did inferior work either through
Ignorance or cupidity. II ID impossible to inspect
and test all the work done by plumbers which is
hidden out OF sight, especiallyis this the case In
the work OF repairs; much must be depended on
plumbers themselves.
The principal effect 80 far of the new regulations
Is 70 throw out lot OF plumbers who could not or
would not pass an examination. As o rule those
who could not pass the examination have been
those with wLow the District has had most trou-
ers, those who desire to DO good and honest work,
are In favor or the regulations OF the Commission
erS and desire them to stand.
There are some few points in the regulations and
orders OF April % which, it occurs TO me- to be
fairly open 10 question, and which would suggest
De abandoned IN order TO strengthen the position
OF the Commissioners on the main and most I'm
portant question. These are the provisions In re-
gard TO age, intelligence, habits and character
ana statement as 10 whether married or not.
The board for the examination should determine
the mans theoretical competence to do work, his
AFTER conduct OF the work should determine as TO
his practical Intelligence and his habits and char
acter In so far as they relate to the business OF
Plumbing / would Also suggest that the % regis
tratlon rec be abandoned, as there Is no specific
authorization for It from Congress- and its legality
Is open To question.